You know, if he wanted to, Carolina wanted him and Duke didn’t object, Rasheed Sulaimon could play for the Tar Heels next season.

UNC vs. Duke 014And, when you think about it, that would make for a pretty cool story and another chapter in the closest rivalry in college basketball. Sulaimon wouldn’t even have to move from his apartment in Durham! After all, it’s only eight miles over here.

Here is how it would work, if it were to work.

Sulaimon completes his undergraduate classes this summer and earns his degree from Duke. That is a must, according to NCAA rules.

That would trigger an exception to the NCAA transfer rule, that students who have graduated from one institution with remaining eligibility could enter a graduate program at another school and be eligible to play right away (as opposed to sitting out a season like any old transfer).

It would also trigger an exception to the ACC rule that does not allow intra-school transfers – except if it is a graduate from one school entering a graduate program at another school.

The one last hurdle is the “objection” clause. Sulaimon’s old school could object to his playing his last season of eligibility at his new school. You think Mike Krzyzewski would object to Sulaimon playing for Roy Williams?

Besides not having to move, there are other reasons it would be good for both schools, particularly Carolina.

  • The Tar Heels lost their new shooting small forward to Duke when Brandon Ingram signed with the Blue Devils.
  • J.P. Tokoto’s starting wing position is still open.
  • Sulaimon, who made the all-ACC freshman team in 2013, has hit 39 percent of his college three-pointers and would be a pretty good weapon in Carolina’s freelance offense.
  • Sulaimon knows most of the Tar Heels as well as players and playing styles around the ACC.
  • Maybe Sulaimon could play on teams that won back-to-back national championships.

 

As for Duke . . .

  • Wouldn’t they be happy to still have Sulaimon around the ‘hood?
  • He could still be part of the Duke-Carolina rivalry.
  • No hard feelings for booting him off the team without explanation.
  • One less vacant apartment in Durham, helping the local economy.
  • Coach K would feel less guilty about stealing Ingram.

 

And that little matter of Sulaimon supposedly being accused of sexually assaulting two Duke coeds? He acquitted himself pretty well with his candid story on ESPN.com last week, don’t you think?

And, of course, there is the issue of who calls who first.

Think that one’s on you, ‘Sheed. Pick up the phone and call Ol’ Roy. See what he thinks.

Then Williams can call Coach K and see what he thinks.

Too bad Coach Smith isn’t around to broker the deal.