The Milwaukee Bucks are off to one of the worst starts they have had in over a decade. Through seven games, they sit with a disastrous 1-6 record and are currently on a six-game losing streak. 

The Bucks look like a lost bunch out there—not only that, but they are an old bunch as well. Although they possess the talents of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, those two are still not enough, at least, to start the season. 

Things are not trending in the right direction, and because of that, the Bucks have fallen to near the bottom half of many NBA rankings, including the New York Times. The New York Times dropped the Bucks from 15 to 26 in week three of the rankings. 

“The Bucks have the longest losing streak in the league right now at six games. It’s the first time in 10 seasons that Milwaukee has had a stretch like this. Sure, the losses to the Cavaliers came down to the wire. But that was after getting pasted in Memphis with two days off against a team that was playing the second night of a back-to-back. Yes, Khris Middleton is missed. But the Bucks bench has been awful defensively.”

The Bucks also fell from 19 to 26 in the NBA.com power rankings. 

“The Bucks almost beat Cleveland on Saturday in what was their first clutch game of the season, but couldn’t get the stop they needed in the final seconds and are 1-6 (or worse) for the first time in 24 years.” 

And for Hoos Hype, the Bucks see themselves at No. 25 on this week’s power rankings. 

“Despite another ho-hum otherworldly performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo and a strong offensive start from Damian Lillard, the Milwaukee Bucks are just 1-5. A major culprit: opponents are dominating the possession game.”

“The Bucks are the league’s worst offensive-rebounding team and second-worst at creating turnovers. In total, foes average 90.8 shots per game compared to Milwaukee’s 26th-ranked 85.7. It’s hard to make up a differential that big, even with stars of this caliber.”

“Frankly, a lot is happening in Milwaukee, and little is good. Their ranking when we return in two weeks might be the most important story of the early season, because if they’re still bottom-feeding like Mississippi River catfish, the Giannis trade rumors will become deafening.”

The Bucks’ hope seems dim right now, but if they can get healthy, they may climb their way up slowly. As things stand, however, the Bucks are a hot mess. 

More Bucks: How All-Star’s Return Could Help the Struggling Bucks

This piece originally appeared as part of NPR’s live coverage of the 2024 election. For more election coverage from the NPR Network head to our live updates page.

Officials in Milwaukee say they are re-tabulating around 34,000 ballots after a snafu with some of their machines.

Ann Jacobs, the chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, explained in a series of posts on X that the doors of the tabulator machines were not locked and sealed this morning as they should have been.

“Both political parties agree that nothing was wrong with the tabulation so far,” she added. “However, in the interest of transparency and so that people can have confidence in the tabulation, the decision was made to re-tabulate the ballots run through so far.”

That process will delay Milwaukee’s reporting, with Jacobs apologizing for what will be “a very late night” in the city.

But she said it was “absolutely the right decision” on the part of election officials, especially considering they did so before getting any results.

“NOBODY knows how the originally scanned ballots were voted,” she said.

MORE: Wisconsin election results

Jacobs also emphasized that there is nothing wrong with the tabulators themselves.

“They are going to, out of an abundance of caution, recount these 30,000 ballots there, but there has been no sign at all that that means the process is fraudulent or rigged or anything like that,” election security correspondent Miles Parks said on NPR’s special radio coverage.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R.-Wis., told NPR that he plans to visit Milwaukee Central Count to speak to poll workers and observers about the delay.

“A machine back popped open, they had to reset the counters and they’re counting over again,” he said. “Now they’re saying we’re not going to get the results until the wee hours of the morning.”

Wisconsin is one of a handful of key swing states that could help decide the election. It voted for Trump in 2016 and Biden in 2020.

Follow the latest from Milwaukee at WUWM.com.

Keep track of all the offseason moves the Milwaukee Brewers have made leading into the 2025 Major League Baseball season. As of Nov. 4, free agents were eligible to sign with new teams.

Upcoming dates to know

• Nov. 5-7: General manager meetings in San Antonio.
• Nov. 19: Deadline for free-agent players to accept a qualifying offer (3 p.m. CT) and deadline to add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 draft (5 p.m.). Players to watch at this stage include Willy Adames, who was given a $21.05 million qualifying offer for one year from the Brewers, and minor-league pitcher Logan Henderson as a potential add to the 40-man. Adames will almost certainly decline the offer, in line to make far more on the open market.
• Nov. 22: Deadline to tender contracts for players on the 40-man roster; those not tendered a contract by this date become free agents. Players to watch at this stage include Hoby Milner.
• Dec. 9-11: Winter meetings in Dallas, which includes the MLB draft lottery on Dec. 10 and the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 11.
• Jan. 10: Deadline for salary arbitration-eligible players and teams to exchange monetary figures.
• Feb. 12: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

Brewers essentially cut ties with Jake Bauers and Bryse Wilson

Nov. 4: First baseman Jake Bauers and pitcher Bryse Wilson were placed on waivers over the weekend, indicating the Brewers were going to non-tender both later this month. They cleared waivers and became free agents.

Wilson pitched in a variety of roles for the Brewers over the past two seasons and was named the club’s Unsung Hero of the Year in 2023 after pitching to a 2.58 earned run average in 76⅔ innings. Wilson had a 4.04 ERA this season, giving him a mark of 3.42 in 181⅓ innings with Milwaukee.

Bauers largely scuffled at the plate during his one season with the Brewers (he had a .662 OPS) but did provide some power (12 homers), played great defense at first base and delivered one of the biggest hits of the year with a pinch-hit, go-ahead homer in the seventh inning of Game 3 of the wild-card series.

Frankie Montas declines his option

Nov. 4: In an unsurprising move, Frankie Montas will hit free agency after declining his $20 million mutual option. Montas’ contract comes with a $2 million buyout.

Montas may not get that same value on the open market as a free agent, but it was an inevitability that the Brewers were going to decline the mutual option, so the right-hander ultimately opted out.

Montas was acquired by the Brewers at the trade deadline from the Cincinnati Reds for Jakob Junis and Joey Wiemer. He pitched Game 2 of the playoff series against New York.

Kevin Herget, Rob Zastryzny claimed off waivers

Nov. 4: The Brewers waived relievers Kevin Herget and Rob Zastryzny, and both were claimed by the Mets and Cubs, respectively.

Herget pitched to a 1.59 ERA in 11⅓ innings, showing a changeup that was at times devastating.

Zastryzny, a left-hander, appeared in nine games and threw 7⅔ innings, allowing just one run. He started three games as an opener, but left elbow tendinitis landed him on the injured list in late July and he never returned to the majors.

Brewers decline options on Devin Williams and Eric Haase, but they remain with organization

Nov. 3: The Brewers declined options for both closer Devin Williams and backup catcher Eric Haase, but both remained under club control.

Williams, instead of earning the $10.5 million on the deal he signed before the 2024 season, will enter his third and final offseason of arbitration, en route to becoming a free agent in advance of the 2026 season. He was expected to earn just less than $8 million in arbitration.

Haase, likewise, will go through the arbitration process for the first time.

Brewers waive starting pitcher Colin Rea and pick up option on Freddy Peralta

Nov. 2: With no intent to pick up starting pitcher Colin Rea’s $5.5 million club option for 2025, the Brewers informed the 34-year-old of their intent to place him on waivers.

It counted as the biggest surprise of the early offseason after Rea threw 167⅔ innings in 2024. It essentially meant the team was moving on, whether he was claimed on waivers or if he wasn’t, at which point the team would simply pay a $1 million buyout. He cleared waivers shortly thereafter.

In a no-brainer move, the Brewers also picked up the $8 million option on the contract of starting pitcher Freddy Peralta, the team’s No. 1 starter in 2024.

Brewers trade Wisconsin native Owen Miller to Colorado Rockies

Nov. 2: Owen Miller, the Ozaukee High School alumnus who had spent time with the Brewers each of the last two seasons, was traded to Colorado for cash considerations.

Miller had a big month of May in 2023 but wasn’t able to cement an everyday roster spot with the Brewers over the next 1½ seasons. Miller was designated for assignment in July 2024 and he spent the remainder of the season with Class AAA Nashville.

Brewers part ways with catcher Gary Sánchez

Nov. 2: Backup catcher Gary Sánchez hit the open market after the Brewers declined the team option for 2025 and paid a $4 million buyout.

Sánchez batted .220 with a .699 OPS and hit 11 home runs in 89 games and 280 plate appearances in his first and only season with Milwaukee, serving primarily as the backup to William Contreras and facing left-handed pitching.

Brewers decline option on pitcher Wade Miley

Oct. 31: Left-handed starter Wade Miley could still be back in some capacity, but it won’t be on the $12.5 million club option for 2025. The Brewers declined that and paid a $1.5 million buyout instead. Miley missed the vast majority of the 2024 season with injury.