A: Yes, the buyout deadline certainly could be another avenue for the Heat to spend the $2.65 million disabled-player salary-cap exception they received for Josh McRoberts' knee injury. Basically, players who have been in the league this season and are waived by March 1 are allowed to sign with another team and be playoff eligible. Caron Butler was an example last season. But most players in such situations generally already have been paid for the season and are not necessarily in the market for much more than the veteran's minimum. The real issue there is the timing. Yes, the Heat could wait until March 1 to outbid another team on the buyout market. But their need for roster relief would appear to be far more immediate. The exception can be spent between now and March 10, but this appears to be a sooner-rather-than-later situation. Then again, if the Heat can stabilize their situation, it would give them a card they could use down the road (say if they trade one of their point guards and choose to use it on a point guard, instead).