Teams don't play player salaries if they don't have any competitive games in the upcoming week.
So 8th place teams don't pay 2 weeks of player salaries, teams that make the playoffs but don't make the finals don't pay 1 week of player salaries, and teams that end their relegation series in 2 games (win or lose) don't pay 1 week of player salaries.
Teams that go to the finals or relegation game 3 don't get any weeks of no player salaries.