Knicks are close to making a trade to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns from Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns is finally a Knick.

After years of flirting and rumors, four-time All-Star Towns will be traded from Minnesota to New York in a stunning blockbuster deal, a source confirmed to The Post.

The Knicks will be dealing with Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, DaQuan Jeffries and a lottery-protected first-round pick from the Pistons, a source confirmed.

The Hornets are also involved in the trade, which is complicated by the fact that the Knicks and Timberwolves exceed the luxury tax threshold.

A senior league source said the trade has been in the works “for some time.”

The shock comes as the Knicks desperately need a starting center, having lost Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency and Mitchell Robinson until at least December – and likely longer – while he recovers from ankle surgery.

It's a risky and expensive gamble for the 28-year-old Towns, who is still owed more than $200 million over the next four years.

According to a league source, the Knicks were attracted to Towns' fit for several reasons:

He fits into a core of players who are all under 30 and all tied to long-term contracts.

Towns' offensive skills, which include elite 3-point shooting for a big man, complement the defensive versatility of OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.

He is a strong defensive rebounder.

He fills the center need with All-Star ability.

His acquisition represents a potential starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, Bridges, Josh Hart, Anunoby and Towns – a formidable group of five that can compete with the Celtics for a title.

Still, Towns doesn't come without major concerns.

He was frequently injured over the last five seasons, criticized for his softness and took eight years to get past the first round of the playoffs.

Towns played two and a half seasons under current Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau in Minnesota.

The coach and player clashed, but Towns told The Post last season that they had “squashed” each other in a conversation years ago.

“I had no problems with Thibs. That was ruined for us,” Towns said. “I still consider Thibs one of the best Xs and Os coaches I've ever had the pleasure of playing for. He breathes victorious and I have nothing but respect for him.”

Thibodeau returned the respect.

“If you look at the progress he's made over the course of his career, he's extremely talented,” Thibodeau said last season. “When you look at an offensive player, especially a big one, the skill set he has to win the 3-point contest and things like that, I don't think there's anything he can't do offensively. I think he has continued to improve. He had to deal with some injuries. I watched him play FIBA [the World Cup, for the Dominican Republic]. He played really well there. He’s really, really talented.”

Towns has been linked to the Knicks since Leon Rose – his former agent – ​​took over the front office in 2020. Towns remains a client of CAA, an agency with close ties to the Knicks.

With Randle, the Knicks are trading an All-Star and one of the players most responsible for revitalizing the organization in recent seasons.

He was a three-time All-Star with New York as a starting power forward, a Most Improved Player winner and a two-time All-NBA selection.

Just on Wednesday, Randle attended the groundbreaking of a high school in the South Bronx.

A dish was named after him.

Now he's leaving town without a contract extension and potentially exploring free agency next summer.

Some people in the Knicks organization felt Randle was a poor complement to Brunson as two ball-dominant players.

Towns passes the ball and spreads the floor to give Brunson room to drive.

DiVincenzo was a revelation and a fan favorite last season. He hit the franchise's biggest shot in years – a game-winning 3-pointer in Game 2 against the Sixers.

He likely would have come off the bench for the Knicks this season, and his departure — along with Robinson's delayed recovery — presents a depth issue in the event of an injury.

Towns, for example, missed at least 20 games in four of the last five seasons.

He underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in March and went on to play 16 postseason games for the Timberwolves.