Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns continues to circulate in trade rumors

The idea of the Knicks moving on from Karl-Anthony Towns is no longer being dismissed around the league.

Not even close, actually.

James L. Edwards III of The Athletic wrote he would not be stunned if the Knicks ultimately trade Towns, even after public comments from owner James Dolan suggesting the roster is largely set.

“As New York continues to free-fall, and I keep talking to people around the league, it would not stun me if Karl-Anthony Towns got traded,” Edwards wrote. “I wouldn’t bet on it, but it’s something I’m monitoring.”

There has already been smoke. Steve Popper of Newsday reported the Knicks have discussed Towns in trade talks with the Grizzlies, Magic and Hornets.

Edwards cautioned that the return would not be massive — but the move itself would qualify as significant, given how much the organization has already churned over the past year and a half.

Towns was acquired from the Timberwolves before last season and helped push the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell to the Pacers in six games.

The aftermath mattered. Towns voiced frustrations about ex-coach Tom Thibodeau during his exit meeting and Thibodeau was fired shortly after. Their relationship had been rocky dating back to Minnesota.

The Knicks replaced Thibodeau with Mike Brown, and league sources say that pairing has not been seamless either.

New York sits at 25-18 with the February 5 trade deadline looming.