Thanks to everyone for the advice, especially Tangosz and Manon.
I've decided I'm going to try to win in the playoffs even though I would probably be better off just keeping a low salary and losing in the first round. The team I am facing may be 17-1 (I've had my team for a week), but he has spent most of his cash on guards, almost all his scoring is from outside, and his highest salary is below 9k. I think if I pick up a few solid 10k-12k per week inside scorers (already got a good one cheap) and ~3-4 cheaper outside players with high OD I will have a chance. My goals are to start next season with at least 400k and to never have revenue below salary this season, so those are the restrictions I'm placing on my late free agent title chase.