The Bucks are Cavs’ biggest rival for the next 5 years

Where things are headed for the Cavs and Bucks

These two teams will be competing against each other for many years to come and challenging for that Eastern Conference crown. While the Bucks are older than the Cavs they still have some of the best players in the league. They are defending NBA champs. They play together as a team. They’ve learned how to grind out wins by playing solid defense and they’ve been a pillar of strength in the league over the previous five seasons.

Antetokounmpo, Holiday and Middleton make up that nucleus. Middleton is the first veteran on the team that is set to have his current contract end in a year from now but Antetokounmpo and Holiday are tied up until the 2024 and 2025 seasons. They can fill in the gaps in future years with veterans that can come in a fill those supporting cast roles.

The Cavs have such a young team but are gaining confidence with every dribble this season. Garland has his contract up after the 2023 season and it will be vital that the organization tie him up on the squad for five years after that. Mobley is a rookie and will be here as the rock on the team. Allen is here until at least 2026 and as long as the Cavs are continuing to have success he will be here even longer. Kevin Love, the veteran on the team, would be a part of the team that could change if the team doesn’t go beyond next season with his contract.

The fact that these two teams are starting to heat things up in the conference and the Cavs have taken two victories against the Bucks already this season speaks to the idea that this will stay a heated rivalry for years to come. It took the Bucks five seasons to get a championship and the Cavs can use that as a blueprint to getting their own title and maybe in a quicker window of time, but they’ll have to take out the Bucks along the way.