Either that or get your tank on! I hope this doesn't come across as rude or arrogant as I am just trying to be helpful but in my opinion there are three winning strategies.
1) Win the league or at least have a good shot at winning. Close game losses and injuries can't be helped but go all out.
2) Have a cheap/developing team and make good money each week while training (and thereby improving the value to your team of your trainee assets and so even losses contribute something) aiming for 3rd-6th.
3) Tank, go for last, get a franchise changing draft pick like LeBron or Rose or Howard. Make $200,000 or more each week. Do difficult training while you are doing it so train your Cs in OD or PA or train IS on your SGs while that training doesn't hurt your team's prospects.
Spending a fortune to only get relegated anyway is what I did in season 12 and it is the worst thing I have done. One of the beauties of this game is you can play in infinite ways and obviously it is your team and you can do whatever you want to as the manager, but my humble opinion is if you are going to get wins then do it and if not sell to the salary floor. As little Yoda says, "Do or do not, there is no try."