Jason Kidd underwent micro-fracture surgery on his left knee yesterday.  He could be out of action for the start of next season.

The news is no more encouraging on the free-agent front.  Power forward Kenyon Martin accepted phone calls on the first day of free agency from eight teams with interest in signing him to a contract.

Kidd's injury caused him chronic discomfort last season.  The Nets would not put a timetable on the recovery period but he could be out for at least three months.

The Nets are trying to find a way to fit Kidd, Martin and Richard Jefferson on the payroll.  

''My only comment is that we've been contacted by eight teams and the Nets are not one of those teams,'' said Martin's agent, Brian Dyke. "If the Nets made an offer, we wouldn't see anybody. But that's no problem. We'll do visits next week and take it from there.''