Shaq signed in Boston for the vet minimum which was something like 1.3 million at the time. He easily could have gotten at least the MLE from somewhere.
Michael Finley was waived by the Mavericks using the amnesty provision in 2005. He had 3 years left on his contract. He played those 3 seasons for the Spurs. At the time Finley was 31 and made 14.6 million from the Mavs his last year there. The Mavs paid him 15.9, 16.1, and 18.6 million the 3 seasons he was on the Spurs who paid him under 9 million for those 3 seasons combined.
Need more amnesty players, how about Chauncey Billups? Knicks used the amnesty on him and then he went to the Clippers. Or Baron Davis, amnestied by the Cavs (in the years in between James) and signed with the Knicks for the minimum (though the Knicks were obviously not a real contender). Elton Brand amnestied by the Sixers and signs in Dallas for the LLE (a bit above the minimum). I'm sure there are others.
Then you have the stretch provision, say hello Josh Smith (Detroit to LAC), Deron Williams (Brooklyn to Dallas), and others.
there are plenty of other examples. This isn't some new thing, no matter how hard you want it to be.