BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Celtics could lose a player in Tuesday night’s NBA expansion draft and think he may be pretty good even though they finished 10 games under .500 last season.

“We’ve got more than eight players that we like on our roster,” club owner Wyc Grousbeck said.

Surprising as that may seem for a team that got worse each of the last three years, he’s concerned that the new Charlotte Bobcats may choose someone left off the Celtics eight-man protected list.

Charlotte must pick at least 14 players from the other 29 teams, with no team allowed to lose more than one. The Celtics – who were 36-46 last season and were swept in the first round of the playoffs – haven’t announced the eight-man list they submitted to the NBA by the June 12 deadline.

“Don’t worry,” Grousbeck said, “We’re protecting Paul Pierce.”

The Celtics also were expected to protect center Chris Mihm, forwards Raef LaFrentz, Kendrick Perkins, Jiri Welsch and Walter McCarty, and guards Ricky Davis and Marcus Banks.

Center Mark Blount is a free agent, but Grousbeck expressed optimism that he might return after having met with new coach Doc Rivers.

The key to the future remains Pierce.

“He’s so talented. I think he needs a supporting cast,” Grousbeck said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We’re going to try to support Paul in every possible way.

“He can be part of a championship team, I’m convinced.”

Pierce became the Celtics’ only reliable offensive threat after they traded Antoine Walker to Dallas last Oct. 20 and got LaFrentz, Welsch and a first-round pick in Thursday night’s regular NBA draft. At times, Pierce struggled.

But he’s still the centerpiece of executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge’s plan.

“Danny’s making moves with an eye toward getting somewhere during Paul’s prime, not getting somewhere during any given eight-week period,” Grousbeck said. “Doc wouldn’t have signed up if he felt we were rebuilding for four years.”

Rivers, Pierce and LaFrentz all have four years left on their contracts. Grousbeck raves about LaFrentz, who missed most of last season with knee problems, and sees him as a strong outside shooter and shot-blocking power forward.

“With Raef coming back and three first-round picks, probably a midlevel exception and the best coach available, I’m really excited,” Grousbeck said. “I think Raef can be one of the best big men in the East.”

A midlevel exception allows teams to spend a designated amount on one or more players beyond the salary cap.

In the regular draft the Celtics have three first-round picks – the 15th, 24th and 25th – and the 40th. They obtained the 24th in the Walker trade and the 25th when they sent Mike James to Detroit for Chucky Atkins in an exchange of point guards.

The Celtics also sent Tony Battie, Eric Williams and Kedrick Brown to Cleveland last Dec. 15 for Davis, Mihm and center Michael Stewart.

“We traded a bunch of guys away last year,” Grousbeck said. “Very few of them are still on NBA rosters. Very few of them are being protected in the expansion draft. Very few of them are contributing to their teams.”

Atkins helped the Celtics, but the team may risk losing him. That would leave Marcus Banks at point guard. Ainge advocated a larger role for last year’s first-round pick and he had some strong games.

“We’ve got so many young players and it’s hard to protect them all,” Grousbeck said. “Who are we going to lose in the expansion draft? That does worry me a little bit.”

The Celtics also could benefit if a team makes a star available, thinking the Bobcats won’t want his big salary. But Charlotte could take him and then trade him.

“If, all of a sudden, the guy ends up on the Mavericks or the Kings or the Celtics, don’t be surprised,” Grousbeck said.