The Boston Celtics just lost a major piece of their team after Gordon Hayward went down with a likely season-ending injury on opening night. However, the Celtics could soon be able to reinforce their roster to help make up for Hayward’s absence.

According to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, team president Danny Ainge and the Celtics are applying for the Disabled Player Exception, which would give the Celtics $8.4 million to pursue a player to fill Hayward’s roster spot.

“We’re in the process of doing that,’’ Ainge said. “We have a while to do that. There’s no urgency, but we will apply for that.”

The Disabled Player Exception gives a team over the salary cap that loses players to serious injuries the ability to add another player. An NBA-approved doctor first has to decide that Hayward is likely to miss most of the season to be awarded the exception. The Celtics have until March 10 to use the exception before it expires.

The Celtics can only use the exception on one player, who should be under contract on the team for just one year. That means a free agent acquired using the exception can only be signed to a one-year contract. Similarly, only players on an expiring contract can be acquired if the exception is used to trade for a player or to claim a player on waivers.

Despite the emergence of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum as well as the presence of other young forwards, the Celtics are intent on using that exception on another wing to replace Hayward. They do not feel the need to add more centers beyond Al Horford and Aron Baynes.