Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel reports that the Heat may get some financial relief from Alonzo Mourning?s kidney ailment. They will probably have to pay the luxury tax next summer, but an insurance policy will pay 80% of Mourning?s $20.6 million salary this season.

That means that roughly $16.5 million will be paid by the insurance company. This money will go a long way to help soften the blow of the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax and the loss of rebate funding by the NBA.

The Heat will also petition the league for a $4.5 million injury exception which could be used to acquire a replacement player. Their chances of receiving the exception are slim because they would have to prove Mourning's absence is due to a new illness that occurred after July 1.