Ayers is absolutely legit! I'd like to get that card someday....
Dan, that doesn't really come up in the NBA. We have 125 or more actual players who don't get a card each and every year, so giving cards to people that don't actually play is not something we have to deal with.
I can think of only two off the top of my head- Rod Grizzard, who has a handful of cards from the 2002-03 rookie class, and Ryan Boatright who somehow got a card in 2015-16 despite never playing an NBA game. That's a gray area. Boatright is pictured in Nets uniform, and played in the pre-season, so he counts. Grizzard has a card image taken at the Rookie Photo shoot, which is an official NBA event, so I guess he counts too. Boatright is still an active player, and could play in the NBA at some point, although honestly it seems unlikely, as he is now in Europe.
I am sure there are others. In fact, the Rookie Photo Shoot reminded me that Steve Logan has several cards, but refused to sign a contract with the Warriors, and never played in any NBA games, not even pre-season or Summer League as far as I know. (I was watching then but I don't remember). I think I did count them but looking back on it now I shouldn't have.
VERY slow trading due to health problems. Not transferrable so safe to trade with, just moving is painful and can't always access the cards.
Cardboard History My COMC
New Collection Website: Cardboard History Gallery (Still under construction)
Tips on how to make your scans look like the card does in hand (No more washed out, fuzzy scans!):