Almost nobody likes to be fired or to get fired, except for D Trump who does seem to enjoy firing people who don't perform. Getting hired and fired are a basic part of life for most people. I belive that about 85% of all workers are fired at some point in their lifetimes and many more than once. It is not a pleasant experience and it doesn't matter whether it is over the phone, by mail, by pony express or by smoke signals, or up close and in person over drinks at your favorite bar, the impact is gut wrenching, often on both parties. Sometimes life sucks and this is one of those times.
I am sure that Riley didn't plan to fire Banker until he was quite sure he had his replacement in the wings ready to go. Riley and others involved in the decision may not be the world's greatest rocket scientists but they are not stupid either. A good forward thinking leader has contingency plans and is always keeping his options open. You need to have backup plans and so on at all times. You minimize risk by having options for 'what if' scenarios. People die and accidents happen and your staff get hired away as often as you hire others away as well. This is always a fact of life in coaching and many other areas of business. Always has been the case and always will be. Money talks and people walk as they say.