"This time of year is intense. It's like the playoffs. There's pressure on us, but it's time to step up to the plate and take a swing."
 
Those words, regarding the matter of pumping fresh life into a worn franchise by acquiring new players, were spoken by Jazz vice president Kevin O'Connor over the summer -- two years ago. They are as true now as they were then. And even more relevant for a club two seasons farther down -- or up -- a creek of formidable rebuilding.
   
Formidable?
   
What other kind is there?
   
This is a nasty bit of business, attempting to retool a team on the fly that has two longtime and expensive veterans, assuming John Stockton will return, including one, Karl Malone, who, at nearly $20 million a season, not only soaks up a large measure of the salary cap, but also has indicated he wants to keep playing until he gets the NBA scoring record.