Is LeBron James smarter than his counterparts, Dwyane Wade of the Heat and Carmelo Anthony of the Nuggets?

While Wade and Anthony have both agreed to five year, $80M extensions with their respective teams, it was assumed that LeBron James had done the same with the Cavs.  Maybe not says Stephen A. Smith.  According to a report on ESPN, sources have told Smith that James will instead accept a four year, $60 million deal from the Cavaliers, and he can opt out of the deal after three seasons.

He could have very good reason to settle for less now.

With the NBA's collective bargaining agreement set to expire at the end of the 2010-11 season, James could be positioning himself for an even bigger payday as a free agent when the cap goes up. Under a new agreement, James and other big stars could be in line for deals in the neighborhood of six years and up to $150 million.

That a superstar would ask to be paid less than that max would be a groundbreaking maneuver.

According to Smith, James discussed the deal he was planning to sign with both Wade and Anthony, and it's unsure if the move by James will affect the agreements made by both Wade and Anthony with the Heat and Nuggets respectively.