Keeper and dynasty leagues

Last updated October 30, 2026

In a dynasty league your team doesn’t reset each fall. You build it over seasons, and every trade has a future as well as a present.

Rosters that carry over

Rosters carry over from one season to the next, so the players you draft and trade for stay yours until you trade or drop them.

The rookie draft and picks

Each new season adds a rookie draft, in reverse order of the final standings by default, so the last-place team picks first. Draft picks can be traded like players, which gives a team that is out of the race something to sell its veterans for.

Now or later

Contending teams trade picks and young players for proven starters. Rebuilding teams do the opposite. In Circled Hoops a young player’s best nights matter more than his average, so a rising player who already has big games now and then is worth holding even before he is consistent.

Decide which you are early in the season and stick to it. A team that buys a veteran in November and sells him in February usually loses on both trades.

Your first dynasty draft

The first draft of a dynasty league shapes it for years, so age matters more than in a league that resets. A star in his late twenties gives you several strong seasons; one in his mid thirties may give you one. Between two players of similar value this season, the younger one is usually the better pick.

The scoring still applies. Because only the circled game counts and missed shots cost a point, look for young players who already score efficiently or fill the box score with rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.

Valuing draft picks

A rookie draft pick is a guess about next year’s draft order and next year’s rookies. Early in the season nobody knows either, so picks tend to trade cheaply; by the end of the season the order is clearer and an early pick is worth much more. If you are rebuilding, ask for picks from teams likely to finish low.

Rookies rarely play big minutes at first, so a newly drafted player often sits on your bench for a while. Keep a spot or two for them, and use injured reserve for hurt veterans so you don’t have to drop a prospect to make room.

More guides

The full rules are on How to play, and every guide is listed on the guides page.