The Bucks Are 1-6 And Somehow Things Get Even Worse With Khris Middleton Not Even Being Close To Returning

Sam Hodde. Getty Images.

There's no real way to sugarcoat it, the Milwaukee Bucks are currently in a bit of a pickle at the moment, and it has nothing to do with the fugazi Giannis potentially demanding a trade rumor.

After falling to the Cavs (again) by under 3 points (again) on Monday night, the Bucks currently sit last in the Eastern Conference at 1-6 with a -6.6 point differential. While it's still very early in the NBA season, it's getting harder and harder to ignore history. There have been 150 teams in the last 54 years who have started a season 1-6, and only 12 of them have made the playoffs. The Bucks specifically have missed the playoffs all 3 times they've started 1-6 or worse.

At some point, the hole you dig yourself early in the season becomes too much to overcome. We're seeing that potential scenario with both the Sixers (1-5) and the Bucks, with the only caveat being at least the Sixers are getting their blue-chip players back in the lineup. Paul George made his debut (in a loss) last night and Embiid sounds like he's right around the corner (potentially Wednesday), so at least there's reason for optimism for Sixers fans.

Unfortunately for MIL, it sure sounds like their reinforcements (Khris Middleton) are nowhere close to returning

Given how their roster is constructed and the underachieving start for someone like Gary Trent Jr (28/23%) who was expected to help pick up the slack while Middleton is out, his not even being cleared for 5 on 5 yet is a pretty big deal. Again, it's not as if the Bucks currently have a margin for error given their record, and that's not even factoring in Giannis' injury stuff. 

I will say this to any Bucks fans who may have clicked on this blog. I have good news for you. As a firm believer in everything that happens in 2K Dynasty Modes somehow translates to real life. Don't ask me to explain it, just accept it. Well, the Bucks did start 1-8 in my 2024-25 season in 2K25, and they eventually figured it out and finished the year as a 5 seed. You may want to disregard that because it's a video game, but if I've said it once I've said it a thousand times. 2K doesn't lie.

The real kicker isn't just the 1-6 start or that Middleton isn't close or that Giannis could demand a trade. The bigger issue is it's not as if the Bucks can just decide to tank and join the race to Capture The Flagg (I saw this somewhere a few weeks ago and I love it). Normally that's 1000% what you should be doing with a 1-6 start, but the only problem there is the Bucks do not even own their 1st round pick this summer if it falls within the top 4. They owe it to the Pelicans if it falls above 5-30 as a result of the Jrue Holiday trade way back in 2021 when they forked over 3 1st round picks (and some swaps).

Talk about insult to injury.

So not only is there pressure for the Bucks to turn everything around quickly to ensure Giannis stays put, but they also have to do it for the simple reason that losing does them no good in terms of roster construction if they happen to get some Lottery luck. Maybe they could get a high impact player at 5, but you don't tank a season for the 5th pick. It's honestly quite the pickle. You don't appear to be ready to contend for a title as constructed let alone avoid the Play In, but you also can't tank because you don't own your own pick.

I do think at some point water will find its level a little bit and the Bucks will no longer be the worst team in the Eastern Conference. There is still a lot of basketball to be played and Giannis and Dame are too good to have a worse record than the Pistons or Wizards. But when so much of their season now relies on a guy in Khris Middleton who still appears to be miles away from seeing the court, you can understand why there's a decent amount of concern that this may end up being a lost season at a time where you cannot have a lost season.