EL SEGUNDO – Unlike the coveted lottery picks that are projected ahead of him, North Carolina State freshman guard Dennis Smith Jr. completed his pre-draft workout with the Lakers without any restrictions.

He relished competing against other players, including Syracuse forward Tyler Lydon, Iowa State guard Matt Thomas, Georgia State forward Jeremy Hollowell, Loyola guard Milton Doyle and Brazilian forward Wesley Alves Da Silva. Smith Jr. could show how he can run the pick-and-roll. Smith Jr. could prove he could elevate the Lakers’ poorly ranked defense.

“You have guys coming out and competing; they want the same thing you want,” Smith Jr. said after his workout on Sunday at the Lakers’ practice facility. “That’s to be against the top get to compete against them. So you get to see who’s really a dog.”

Smith Jr. proved to be the top dog on talent alone. While most NBA mock drafts project Smith Jr. to become a top-10 pick, Lydon marked the only other player to be drafted on June 22. The Lakers are not expected to select Smith Jr. with their No. 2 pick, which will be reserved either for Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, De’Aaron Fox or Markelle Fultz if he is available. But the Lakers brought Smith Jr. in for a workout in case they trade down.

“My outlook is it was already written,” Smith Jr. said on his draft stock. “The Lord already knows I was going to get drafted at 1 or 29. He knew before I was born. I just do what I’m supposed to do. Everything will take care of itself.”

Smith Jr. sounded equally dismissive on whether he is concerned about where Fultz, Ball and Fox are selected.

“No, sir,” he said. “Just myself. I don’t compare.”

Smith Jr. impressed the Lakers with his workout after leading the Wolfpack with 18.1 points on 45.5 percent shooting and 6.2 assists during his freshman season. He had a 48-inch vertical. He also believed he could have helped the Lakers in one specific category.

“I checked one of the stats and they’re bottom 10 in almost everything relative to pick-and-roll scoring,” Smith Jr. said. “I think I can contribute to that.”

Upon further review

Many qualities have made the Lakers impressed with Ball, including his leadership potential, passing and scoring. They are not impressed, however, with his level of conditioning.

Some observers of Ball’s workout last Wednesday thought he came in out of shape. Ball acknowledged that the “drills get you tired, so you got to stay focused.”

For better and for worse, the Lakers are mindful of not overreacting to individual workouts considering the various restrictions. Instead of playing against any prospects, Ball played two-on-two against some of the Lakers’ assistant coaches. Though his workout entailed various shooting drills, Ball did not have the chance to show other things, including how he operates out of the pick-and-roll.

Ringing endorsement

Just as Lydon walked off the floor, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka remarked to a reporter how much he liked his workout. Lydon overheard the conversation.

“It’s always good to come in some place and work as hard as you can and then get good feedback,” said Lydon, who talked to Pelinka earlier. “It’s what you work for.”

Lydon has heard he is projected to land somewhere late in the first round, which could make him available for the Lakers, which have the 28th pick. Lydon averaged 13.2 points, while averaging 47.2 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from 3-point range.

“My ability to stretch the floor and shoot it as well as I can,” Lydon touted as his main skill. “I also feel like I can do more. I can put the ball on the floor and make plays for other guys, find guys when they’re open. Those things. At the end of the day, I’m trying to come in and play my game.”

The Lakers may need some shooters, especially if Nick Young opts out of his player option and goes elsewhere. With the Lakers currently loaded with forwards, they may look for someone that can help defensively.

“I did an all right job guarding on the perimeter,” Lydon said. “It’s something obviously I know I need to improve upon, but I also feel very confident in doing it and I feel like I was able to show a little bit of that today.”