Disclosed is a computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product to optimize, incrementally, a circuit design. An Electronic Design Automation (EDA) system receives a plurality of nets wherein each net is comprised of at least one pin. Each pin is linked to a net to form a path of at least a first pin and a second pin, wherein the first pin is a member of a first net. The second pin can be a member of a second net, and the path is associated with a slack. The EDA system determines whether the path is a critical path based on the slack. The EDA system reduces at least one wire length of the path, responsive to a determination that the path is a critical path. The EDA system moves a non-critical component in order to reduce at least one wire length of the nets that include pins of a non-critical component, responsive to reducing at least one wire length of the path, wherein the non-critical component lacks pins on a critical path. The EDA system legalizes the components on a net having a pin selected from the first pin and the second pin. The EDA system determines whether a component is a non-critical component. The EDA system, responsive to a determination that component is a non-critical component, legalizes the non-critical component. The EDA system incrementally optimizes a time delay of the plurality of paths, responsive to legalizing.