Circled HoopsWaivers and free agents
Last updated October 30, 2026
After the draft, players on no roster can be added at any time. The wire works differently from most fantasy games, because adding more games doesn’t add more points.
Free agents and waivers
A player nobody has picked up is a free agent and can be added at once. A dropped player goes on waivers first. In new leagues every waiver clears at 12:00 AM on lock day, so claims settle before lineups lock. A commissioner can switch to 48 hours after each drop instead.
Rolling priority and FAAB
By default, claims go by rolling priority: the team highest in the order wins a contested claim and moves to the back. Leagues can turn on FAAB instead, where each team has a $100 season budget and makes blind bids. FAAB dollars are a game currency only and are never bought or paid out.
Why streaming doesn’t work
In many leagues the best tactic is to add whoever plays tonight, every night. Here each slot only ever counts one game, so an extra game from a streamer is worth nothing unless he is circled. Churning the wire just costs you waiver priority.
What to add instead
- A player whose minutes just went up because a teammate is out for a while.
- A bench backup whose team plays late in the week.
- An injured star someone dropped, straight onto IR if you have a slot (see Using injured reserve).
More guides
- Which game to circle
- Back-to-backs and rest nights
- Bench backups and injury subs
- Using injured reserve
- Scoring explained
- How to draft for Circled Hoops
- Trading in Circled Hoops
- Keeper and dynasty leagues
The full rules are on How to play, and every guide is listed on the guides page.