Just sharing what I know, it sounds like a hybrid firing and him choosing to move on like many senior business roles are.
The “I’m not allowed to say rebuild” public comments pissed the big man off for sure
He had been planning to leave/retire at the end of the season all year. The "Big Man" wasn't happy about this. So if to help his ego he's making it out to be "mutual" so be it, but it wasn't a "firing" or moving on at all.
I am surprised that those posters did not get stolen/damaged throughout the years, with drunken and pissed off fans walking through the hallway every game...