West Notes: Jazz, Malik Beasley, Suns, Kings, Kevin Huerter

Jazz

Shooting guard Malik Beasley will be a free agent soon but said he would prefer to remain with the Jazz.

“I would love for them to pick that option up for me to continue my journey here in Utah,” Beasley said, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “If not, then I’ve got to make the best of it. I’m very thankful for this landing spot since I came here.

“There are a lot of great people here in Utah and a great fan base. I think it’s the perfect opportunity to show I’m a changed man in Utah. It’s a place where big-name players usually wouldn’t come here, but I don’t know why. Once you come out here, you’ll have a great time.”

Beasley was acquired from the Timberwolves as part of the trade for center Rudy Gobert this past offseason. 

• In case you missed it, Beasley’s name has been mentioned in trade rumors, as we relayed here. We also have more Jazz trade chatter right here, as they’ve been repeatedly linked to Hawks forward John Collins. Per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, Utah’s interest in Collins is legit.

Suns

• It appears to be more of the same for the Suns, as they seemingly have stepped up their efforts to move forward Jae Crowder. As relayed by Fischer, they do not have an interest in Collins. Fischer is the second to report that this week, following John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports.
• Crowder, meanwhile, continues to be linked to the Bucks and Heat, with the Wizards and Knicks also said to be expressing minimal interest.
• Shooting guard Devin Booker said he was no fan of how Lakers guard Patrick Beverley shoved center Deandre Ayton from behind after a hard foul by Booker on Lakers guard Austin Reaves. “I would have a lot more respect if he just pushed him in the chest when the guy was facing him,” Booker told reporters. Beverley was ejected.

Kings

Shooting guard Kevin Huerter is off to a fantastic start after arriving in an offseason trade with the Hawks — drawing high praise from none other than Nets star Kevin Durant.

“Kevin Huerter, right now, he’s playing like (Klay Thompson), (Steph Curry),” Durant said on the Boardroom show, citing his former teammates with the Warriors. “If you’re not a basketball fan and locked in on the league, you gotta watch how Kevin Heurter is shooting this ball right now.”

Huerter, 24, is averaging a career-high 16.7 points and shooting 50 percent on 3-pointers, as the Kings have won seven straight, through Tuesday, under new coach Mike Brown.